"I think he'll respect me." From what I could tell, he didn't understand that concept. Hell, Liam was only starting to comprehend it. The Blood Council only understood fear.
"That's an interesting word to use." He lifted his coffee cup and took a sip. "Sometimes respect can be overrated."
"Oh, really?" I hated to admit that I was curious.
"Fear is how you keep people in line." He placed his cup back on the table and arched an eyebrow at me. "Why do you think Simon threatened and injured your brother?"
"Because he's a self-absorbed asshole." The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Him only thinking of himself isn't a good trait to have if he's supposed to be sitting on the council in the next few years." My words were a challenge.
"Fear is a necessity of the council." His words were tense, and his blue eyes took on a slight glow. His wolf was coming out, not wanting me to question him any further.
Although being passive wouldn't get me answers. "How so? If the council is supposed to be advocating for the best of all, then wouldn't you want to be respected?"
"This, right here," he said as he slammed his palm on the table, "is the reason why you aren't right for my son. You're filling his head with possibilities that will ruin the very foundation that we stand on."
"And what foundation is that?" I hated to argue with Liam’s dad, but it was clear that he wouldn't accept me as family. Obviously, he had only been okay with mentoring me when he thought he could control my position and who I reported to.
"One where everyone knows that the council knows best." He stared into my eyes as if expecting me to submit.
"Everyone has flaws and makes mistakes." I held his gaze, not diverting my attention elsewhere. I wanted him to know I couldn't be intimidated, which was clearly what he was trying to do. "We need to make it where people can talk to us and open our eyes to our own biases."
"We are strong leaders." He leaned across the table, his voice fading so low it was barely a whisper. "We know what's best for everyone."
"Then what's the point of the regional alphas or even the district alphas?" I refused to cower to him. If he saw fear, he'd strike.
He huffed and leaned back in his seat. His face turned a slight shade of red, but he paused a few seconds before talking. "We're obviously not getting anywhere, so let's cut to the chase."
I had no clue where this would go. “I figured this conversation was leading somewhere.”
"What would it take to make you go away?" He huffed and straightened his black suit jacket.
"Do you mean for me to leave the school or Liam?" There was nothing in this world that would keep me from either, but I was curious about how he thought this would play out.
"Both." He pulled out a checkbook and laid it on the table. "You tell me the amount, and I'll make it happen."
Is everything okay? Liam's voice entered my mind. I can't even decipher what your feelings are projecting right now.
Your dad is trying to buy me off. I couldn't help the laughter that leaked through my words. He has a blank checkbook sitting on the table, asking me what it'll take for me to leave.
Are you fucking serious? His tone was low... almost deadly. I'm heading that way.
No, don't. When it was all said and done, I didn't want to put more of a strain on their relationship.
He's gone too far. Liam waited a moment. I get that you want to talk to him alone, but we're a team. Right?
He sounded slightly paranoid at the end. If you're worried I'm going to take the money and run, I wouldn't do that. He seemed apprehensive. If you want to be here, then so be it.
Leaving class now. I'll be there soon.
"Mia?" Annoyance was clear in Mr. Hale's tone.
"Sorry, Liam linked me." I grabbed my latte and took a sip. "He's on his way now.'’
"I thought he respected you too much to show." A small smile played at the corners of his mouth.
"We agreed together that he should come." I put my drink back on the table. I usually loved the taste, but right now, it could've been soured milk, and I wouldn't know the difference. "So, let me be clear. There is no amount of money in the world that would get me to walk away from Liam or this school."
"That can't be true." Mr. Hale pulled at the knot of his blood-red tie. "Everyone has a price."
Maybe most people did, but I had three very good reasons why my ass was staying put. The first and most important was Liam. I would never want to live my life without my fated beside me. Yes, it might have been possible. Look at my mom and my dad. They both had lost their fated and found another chance at love even if it wasn't even close to being the same. They still had each other.
Secondly, I was determined to unveil what had happened to my biological dad. I understood that it wouldn't bring him back, but his death never received justice. For him to leave and meet with the four council members, never to return, made me certain they at least knew something about it.
And lastly, I was going to take back what was rightfully mine. The council was created to have an overseer to help balance out the power. A majority vote of any council member’s ideas was then presented to the overseer to either approve or reject. Right now, the council was able to push anything through without another set of independent eyes on it.
"Your son means more to me than any dollar amount you can jot down there." Seriously, who wrote checks anymore? For them to be all superior, you’d think they would at least know how to send a wire.
"You do realize that we're talking millions here." He tapped his finger on the checkbook like that might change my mind. "There truly is no amount off the table." He leaned forward, capturing my eyes with his once again. His eyes lit with alpha will.
The asshole was going to try to command me. I released part of my wolf, heading him off.
"Well, what do we have here?" Liam slipped into the booth next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. He leaned forward, cutting off his dad's challenge. "You wouldn't be trying to command my mate to leave now, would you?"
"Well, you won't listen." His dad leaned back in the seat.
Why hasn't he tried doing that to you? If he'd commanded Liam, then we wouldn't even need to be here having this discussion.
He did. Liam's arm tensed around me. Why did you think I disappeared for all those weeks? He let me go to the game, because hell, I'm the quarterback. Then when I saw you again, it all went out the window. Our bond is stronger than his will. "So, you've resorted to bribing her?"
"This is career suicide." His dad glanced around and then released a low growl. "You're going to ruin the very thing you've been training for your entire life."
"By mating with me?" It was all bullshit and just a way for him to control Liam. "He's still the same person. How do I taint him?"
"Because fated mates make us weak." He pointed to me and shook his head in disgust. "It's okay for people like you to have their fated. It makes you feel like you have a meaning in life and are important to someone."